After 15 seasons, 5 titles, skipper takes on new role with team

7:09 PM,
Nov. 27, 2012

Sparky Lyle, in the dugout during a game in July, is moving into an off-field position with the Patriots.

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Sparky Lyle's tenure as manager of the Somerset Patriots predates the groundbreaking on TD Bank Ballpark, the unveiling of the team's logo and the hiring of any other full-time employee of the independent minor-league baseball team.

Now, after 15 seasons, 1,024 regular season wins and five Atlantic League championships, it is over.

Hired in January 1997, 16 months before the team played its first game, Lyle will be moved out of the dugout and into the public relations role of manager emeritus beginning immediately. The change, along with promotion of pitching coach Brett Jodie to manager, ...